11 Paul , a bond-servant of Christ Jesus , [1] called as an apostle , set apart for the gospel of God , 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures , 3 concerning His Son , who was born of a [2]descendant of David according to the flesh , 4 who was declared the Son of God with power [3]by the resurrection from the dead , according to the [4]Spirit of holiness , Jesus Christ our Lord , 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship [5]to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake , 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ ; 7 to all who are beloved of God in Rome , called as [6] saints : Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ .
8 First , I thank my God through Jesus Christ [7]for you all , because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world . 9 For God , whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son , is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you, 10 always in my prayers making request , if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be [8]established ; 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other's faith , both yours and mine . 13 I do not want you to be unaware , brethren , that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far ) so that I may obtain some fruit among you also , even as among the rest of the Gentiles . 14 I am [9]under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians , both to the wise and to the foolish . 15 So , for my part , I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome .
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel , for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes , to the Jew first and also to the Greek . 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed [10]from faith to faith ; as it is written , "[11] BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Romans 1:1-17
Commentary on Romans 1:1-7
(Read Romans 1:1-7)
The doctrine of which the apostle Paul wrote, set forth the fulfilment of the promises by the prophets. It spoke of the Son of God, even Jesus the Saviour, the promised Messiah, who came from David as to his human nature, but was also declared to be the Son of God, by the Divine power which raised him from the dead. The Christian profession does not consist in a notional knowledge or a bare assent, much less in perverse disputings, but in obedience. And all those, and those only, are brought to obedience of the faith, who are effectually called of Jesus Christ. Here is, 1. The privilege of Christians; they are beloved of God, and are members of that body which is beloved. 2. The duty of Christians; to be holy, hereunto are they called, called to be saints. These the apostle saluted, by wishing them grace to sanctify their souls, and peace to comfort their hearts, as springing from the free mercy of God, the reconciled Father of all believers, and coming to them through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Commentary on Romans 1:8-15
(Read Romans 1:8-15)
We must show love for our friends, not only by praying for them, but by praising God for them. As in our purposes, so in our desires, we must remember to say, If the Lord will, James 4:15. Our journeys are made prosperous or otherwise, according to the will of God. We should readily impart to others what God has trusted to us, rejoicing to make others joyful, especially taking pleasure in communing with those who believe the same things with us. If redeemed by the blood, and converted by the grace of the Lord Jesus, we are altogether his; and for his sake we are debtors to all men, to do all the good we can. Such services are our duty.
Commentary on Romans 1:16-17
(Read Romans 1:16-17)
In these verses the apostle opens the design of the whole epistle, in which he brings forward a charge of sinfulness against all flesh; declares the only method of deliverance from condemnation, by faith in the mercy of God, through Jesus Christ; and then builds upon it purity of heart, grateful obedience, and earnest desires to improve in all those Christian graces and tempers, which nothing but a lively faith in Christ can bring forth. God is a just and holy God, and we are guilty sinners. It is necessary that we have a righteousness to appear in before him: there is such a righteousness brought in by the Messiah, and made known in the gospel; a gracious method of acceptance, notwithstanding the guilt of our sins. It is the righteousness of Christ, who is God, coming from a satisfaction of infinite value. Faith is all in all, both in the beginning and progress of Christian life. It is not from faith to works, as if faith put us into a justified state, and then works kept us in it; but it is all along from faith to faith; it is faith pressing forward, and gaining the victory over unbelief.